Hackers have apparently gained access to the webmail account of US vice president hopeful – Sarah Palin. They have posted images of her inbox and address book as well as family photos.

Clearly the potential for misuse of this information is of a different scale to that faced by ‘everyday’ people but it underlines that we all need to be aware that we don’t write anything in an email that we would find difficult if it became public.

Children often find themselves caught in the middle when one of their friends falls out with another, email and social echat can often compound the problem.

Sometimes when children make ‘errors of judgement’ they are treated with “well it’s your own fault” support, perhaps there is another perspective offered here – If the potential vice president of America can’t get this right then what chance to the kids stand?